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Obituary: Judge Wendell A. Miles

Judge Wendell A. Miles, former judge of the U. S District Court for the Western District of Michigan died July 30. He was 97 years old.

Born in Holland, Mich. in 1916, Judge Miles earned his B.A. from Hope College, his Master’s Degree from the University of Wyoming, and his J.D. from the University of Michigan in 1942. He entered the Army after law school during World War II and served in Europe post-war until 1948 when he returned to Holland to practice law with his father.

Judge Miles began his career of public service as prosecuting attorney for Ottawa County until he became United States Attorney for the Western District during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was an Ottawa County Circuit Judge for 14 years until his nomination by President Nixon to the federal court in 1974. He served as Chief Judge from 1980 to 1986. He retired from the federal bench in 2008.

“Judge Wendell Miles devoted his entire professional career to serve the cause of justice in our Country,” stated Chief Judge Paul L Maloney. “His steadfast devotion to fostering the rule of law is a model for all judges,”

Judge Miles served on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court shortly after its founding, having been appointed by then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

Magistrate Judge Hugh W. Brenneman stated, “Judge Miles was one of the men who gave the ‘Greatest Generation’ its name.”

Judge Miles married Mariette Bruckert who preceeded him in death. They had three children.

Funeral arrangements are pending. The United States District Court will convene a memorial service in honor of Judge Miles in the Gerald R. Ford Federal Courthouse in Grand Rapids on a date to be determined.